GitPad: Effortless note-taking on GitHub.

Luca Ottaviano — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:38:15 +0000

I've been using a GitHub repo as my notes database for a while and it's generally really nice: I write my notes in .md files in VS Code, nest subfolders as much as I need, and push everything online in a couple of clicks.

It's simple, customizable and reachable from any device.

Then I tried doing the same from my phone, because even though I mainly take notes (especially code related ones) on PC, it's not rare for me to add quick reminders or make small edits on the go too.

Here's the problem: the GitHub mobile app actually allows you to edit files on the go, but the experience is slow and the interface feels cluttered. I also tried some note-taking apps that integrate with GitHub through plugins, but none of them met my requirements (iOS compatibility issues, poor UX and tricky setups, not to mention the whole “external service” issue again).

For these reasons I created GitPad, a GitHub-based web app that connects to one of your repos and allows you to handle .txt/.md files neatly and quickly.

No external services or databases, your data stays only in your selected repo, and the entire flow is handled through GitHub’s APIs.

This app is meant for a really niche user base, it's not a general purpose notes-taking app and simplicity is one of its core values.

I’d be glad to hear any opinions, advice, or feedback about it.

More info on: https://github.com/LucaOttvn/GitPad Thanks for reading

Introducing NeatPad

Luca Ottaviano — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 10:35:02 +0000

Google Keep Users: Tired of these common frustrations? My open-source alternative, NeatPad!

Hey everyone,

I've been a long-time Google Keep user, and while it's great for quick notes, a few persistent issues always got under my skin. I figured I couldn't be the only one, so I decided to build my own solution, NeatPad!

Here are the main pain points I addressed:

1. Cluttered Homepage with Partial Previews

What's the point of seeing just the start of a note if you have to open it anyway to read or edit the full content? It just eats up valuable space on the home screen, where I'd rather see as many note titles as possible at a glance.

2. No Markdown Support

As a huge fan of Markdown, its absence in Keep has always been frustrating. It's universally easy to use, self-explanatory, and makes notes so much more readable and organized.

3. Cramped Note Editor Modal

The tiny fixed-width editor in Google Keep never made sense to me. Especially when taking longer notes, like coding snippets or detailed thoughts, I really want to see as much text as possible without constant scrolling.

4. Folders handling

The folders section is just a list of names without any icon, color or eye-catching feature to make them look different in any way.

My Solution: NeatPad!

Over the last few months, I've been actively working on NeatPad, a web application built with React and Capacitor. It aims to be a valid, open-source alternative for anyone who shares these frustrations.

If you've nodded along to any of the points above, I'd love for you to check out NeatPad. It's built with a focus on a cleaner interface, full Markdown support, and a flexible editor designed for longer notes.

You can find more details, contribute, or try it out on my GitHub page:

Visit NeatPad on GitHub!

Let me know what you think!

Forem: Luca Ottaviano